20 and 52 Wilkie:
US health care has some problems to fix to be sure, many caused by the avalanche of uninsured people from some other country, but yes, it can always be improved.
But aside from that, how long does an artificially maintained and heavily subsidized program like state healthcare last in good order in the countries you mention?
I am not expert on France, but do you suppose that as France’s population ages, its productive citizens will continue to gladly hand over high taxes to support employees that they can’t fire, doctors who have a limited work week, oldsters on healthy pensions and free health care for all those productive fellows that burn cars every summer? (“youths” I believe they are euphemistically called). The doctors prohibited frm working overtime when France had that nasty heat wave and suffered–was it 6,000 deaths? Will it be the same as swine flu comes on? Not here. (and will France ever have a working aircraft carrier? I know that may not count for much in some circles but it does here).
The Brits, god love ‘em (and we do), cannot field a military without renting Soviet helicopters, have a hugely high debt relative to GDP and some wonder –while conceding that its great to be treated there at cost to other taxpayers–how long labor’s insistence on subsidizing everything can last. Britain’s experience with subsidized businesses nearly killed the country in the 60′s and 70′s and subsidized care is no different over the long term. I agree their basic care is good, but there are constant horror stories in the Telegraph or Mail about patients being treated highhandledly or not at all, booted out with soild clothes and broken glasses before treatment is done etc.
The US also spends enourmously on subsidizing things the Saudi’s don’t–justice and fairness (ask anyone the cost to litigate a sexual harassment suit to trial), and a defense capacity that benefits everyone else (we don’t want to have to call anyone else–historically its not a good idea).
So some things here may not be as gilded as elsewhere. But we’re pretty happy with the over all product.
